1 Ngomnyaka wesibili wenkosi uDariyu, ngosuku lokuqala lwenyanga yesithupha, ilizwi likaThixo lafika ngomphrofethi uHagayi lisiya kuZerubhabheli, indodana kaSheyalithiyeli, umbusi wakoJuda, lakuJoshuwa, indodana kaJozadaki, umphristi omkhulu:

2 Nanku okutshiwo nguThixo uSomandla: “Abantu laba bathi, ‘Isikhathi sokwakha indlu kaThixo kasikafiki.’ ”

3 Ngakho ilizwi likaThixo lafika ngomphrofethi uHagayi lisithi: 4 “Kuyisikhathi senu lina ngokwenu ukuba lihlale ezindlini zenu ezinhle, kodwa indlu le ilokhu ilunxiwa na?”

5 Khathesi nanku okutshiwo nguThixo uSomandla: “Cabangani kuhle ngezindlela zenu. 6 Lihlanyele okunengi kodwa livuna okulutshwana. Liyadla, kodwa kalisuthi. Liyanatha, kodwa kalikholwa. Liyagqoka izigqoko, kodwa kalifudumali. Lihola imiholo liyifake esikhwameni esivuzayo.”

7 Nanku okutshiwo nguThixo uSomandla: “Cabangani kuhle ngezindlela zenu. 8 Khwelani ezintabeni lehlise izigodo lakhe indlu ukuze ngithokoze ngayo njalo ngidunyiswe,” kutsho uThixo. 9 “Kade lilindele okunengi, kodwa khangelani, kusuke kwaba yingcosana. Elikulethe ekhaya, mina ngikuphephulele khatshana. Kungani na?” kutsho uThixo uSomandla. “Kungenxa yendlu yami elokhu ilunxiwa, ngesikhathi lina, omunye lomunye wenu, ebambeke ngendlu yakhe. 10 Ngakho-ke, ngenxa yenu amazulu asegodle amazolo lomhlaba amabele. 11 Ngilethe ukoma emasimini lasezintabeni, emabeleni, ewayinini elitsha, emafutheni lakukho konke okuvela emhlabathini, ebantwini lasenkomeni kanye lasemsebenzini wezandla zenu.”

12 Lapho-ke uZerubhabheli, indodana kaSheyalithiyeli, loJoshuwa, indodana kaJozadaki, umphristi omkhulu lensalela yonke yabantu balilalela ilizwi likaThixo uNkulunkulu wabo kanye lombiko kaHagayi umphrofethi ngoba wayethunywe nguThixo uNkulunkulu wabo. Abantu bamesaba uThixo.

13 Emva kwalokho, uHagayi isithunywa sikaThixo, wanika abantu ilizwi likaThixo leli: “Ngilani,” kutsho uThixo. 14 Ngakho uThixo waqubula umoya kaZerubhabheli indodana kaSheyalithiyeli, umbusi wakoJuda, lomoya kaJoshuwa indodana kaJozadaki, umphristi omkhulu, lomoya wensalela yabantu. Beza baqalisa ukusebenza endlini kaThixo uSomandla uNkulunkulu wabo, 15 ngosuku lwamatshumi amabili lane lwenyanga yesithupha ngomnyaka wesibili wenkosi uDariyu.